BELAGAVI, 25 FEB

In a troubling incident that escalated from a personal dispute into a broader interstate issue, four individuals have been arrested for allegedly assaulting a conductor of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus. The conductor, Mahadevappa Mallappa Hukkeri, was attacked after he informed a girl, who spoke in Marathi, that he did not understand the language and requested she communicate in Kannada.

The altercation began when the girl, accompanied by a male friend, insisted that the conductor learn Marathi. Following their argument, a larger group gathered and assaulted Hukkeri on multiple occasions. He was subsequently admitted to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences with minor injuries but is reported to be out of danger.

In a twist, a counter-complaint has been lodged by the 14-year-old girl against Hukkeri, who now faces charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly making indecent remarks. Belagavi Police Commissioner Lada Martin Marbaniang confirmed this, stating that further investigations are ongoing.

The incident has intensified tensions between Karnataka and Maharashtra, given Belagavi's significant Marathi-speaking population and ongoing demands for the district's merger with Maharashtra. Protests have erupted in response, with local organisations expressing discontent over the treatment of the conductor and the charges filed against him.

In light of these events, bus services between the two states have been suspended, with operations limited to border checkpoints as authorities manage the fragile situation. The Karnataka Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, asserted that swift action was taken by the police, ensuring that justice is served.